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Animal Defenders of Westchester
P.O. Box 205
Yonkers, NY 10704

Action Alerts

AAA: Damn dogs

"Car & Travel" is the offical magazine of the AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF NEW
YORK, INC. www.aaany.com . I had
issues with it some years ago, over pro-circus/rodeo coverage, in addition
to unkind articles about wildlife, and I cancelled my subscription. I
recently rejoined, and was dismayed to see nothing has changed.

In the October, 2005 issue is an article by the Editor, in which he
proudly complains how dogs are 'favored' over people. Especially
distressing is his criticism (!) of "sources that list dog-friendly hotels
in areas where people might need temporary shelter" - such cold-heartedness,
coming on the heels of the horror of Hurricane Katrina, in which thousands
of helpless animals were abandoned to starve and die, is mindboggling. The
article appears below:

I no longer mutter about the "starving people in Africa and Asia" as I
roll my shopping cart past supermarket shelves stacked high with cat and dog
food. Nor do I snicker anymore when I encounter pet-grooming salons bearing
signs such as "by appointment only" and "organic herbal remedies."
Nevertheless, I found myself emitting a few growls recently after receiving
an e-mail newswire on behalf of the Amalfi Hotel Chicago announcing that the
215-room boutique property has taken "pet friendly" to a new level.

"Four-legged friends are treated to plush dog beds, a care package that
includes Bobbi Panter's all-natural pet pampering products, ceramic bowls
for food and water, and a specialty dog biscuit, "read the press release.
Guests who must leave their pets unattended when going out on the town are
provided pagers so that they may be alerted to "any disturbances or concerns
the [hotel] staff may have regarding the dog's well-being."

Not that two-legged guests are neglected. The press release for the
Chicago hotel notes amenities such as complimentary high-speed Internet
service, DVD/CD players, plush bathrobes and "315-thread-count Egyptian
cotton linens" on its king- and queen-size beds. No mention is made of
Egyptian cotton linens for the dog beds, so one hopes that Fido, in
comparing sleeping arrangements, is not made to feel like a declasse guest
and suffer a restless night.

Coming on the paw-heels of the Amalfi news was another press notice from
a public relations outfit citing six other lodging establishments with
dog-friendly attitudes. One is Five Gables Inn & Spa on the Chesapeake Bay
in St.Michaels, Md., offering a two-night "pooch-friendly" package
consisting of a dog bed, water bowl and a "special doggie gift bag filled
with lavender shampoo, conditioner, candle and a between-bath spritz."
(Better to light one candle than to bark in darkness.)

Then there is the deluxe Bentley Beach Hotel, located in the exclusive
South Beach section of Miami Beach, that caters to "fashionable pups," who
are charged $50 per night--probably not unreasonable when you consider that
the dog's owner pays about five times that amount. (But talk about
exclusive: The hotel extends a welcome only to dogs weighing 15 pounds or
less.)

Yet another oceanfront hotel, the Cliffs Resort in Pismo Beach, Calif.,
includes "complimentary bottled water" with its dog food dishes. (A nice
thick steak washed down with a glass of Evian--what more could a dog ask
for!)

So what exactly is my beef? In part it's a feeling that the travel
industry may be veering into ludicrous anthropomorphic territory. I mean
it's one thing for the famed Plaza Hotel on Fifth Avenue to permit guests to
dial Room Service for dog food. But the day may be coming when resorts will
admit dogs--Rottweilers not excluded--to their spas so they can bathe in
aromatic oils and discover their inner peace.

It's also a matter of priorities. Go to Google and punch in
"child-friendly hotels" and "kid-friendly hotels" and you'll get about
28,000 results. Substitute "pet" and "dog" for "child" and "kid" and the
search results total more than 1 million entries!

Besides, with nearly 5 million dog bites reported annually in the nation,
travelers should be receiving assurances of people-friendly canine guests
rather than a pet-friendly host when they check into a hotel.

It was a flurry of other pet-oriented press releases that had set me off
on my Google-based fact-finding mission.

There was an e-mail about a new car-restraint system for pets, the
Original FidoRido from Best Products of Indianapolis, which at least calls
attention to the dangers to human as well as animal occupants in letting
pets ride unbelted. The manufacturer also felt the need, however, to note
that FidoRido uses "the same material as a child's safety seat," with foam
padding that can be removed to allow the seat "to become a pet bath tub."
Not a dog-sized Jacuzzi, thank goodness (even Chicago's Amalfi doesn't offer
that amenity), but just a plain wash basin for Fido.

What stretched my tolerance level, however, was the announcement by
DogFriendly.Com of "a free Web page designed to assist people who need to
evacuate with pets during a storm." Yes, I know that people should formulate
a plan of action in the event, say, of an imminent hurricane or a terrorist
threat---a feature article in June's Car & Travel covered that very subject.
But listing dog-friendly hotels in areas where people might seek temporary
shelter takes emergency preparedness to an absurd level.

If you should find you and your family fleeing to Pismo Beach, Calif.,
please note that the Cliffs Resort mentioned earlier provides a
dog-walking--but not a babysitting--service for its guests.

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